Mrs. Gandhi wins approval for strike-ban bill in India

By
With Analysis from Monitor Correspondents Around the World EditedMark Muth /
September 17, 1981

New Delhi

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi won parliamentary approval yesterday for a bill that bans strikes by employees of India's essential services. The bill gives the government sweeping powers to fire strikers, to arrest them without warrant, try them summarily, and impose fines and jail sentences.

Opposition members tore up copies of the bill, which they had fought during two days of heated debate. The measure was finally passed unanimously after the opposition walked out of the assembly in a final protest.